Ruttya

Family. Acanthaceae.

Origin. Africa.

Description. Ruttya is an evergreen shrub with lodging or erect stems. The leaves are dark green, lanceolate or heart-shaped, glossy, with pronounced veins. The flowers are bright, yellow, red, white, pink, orange or burgundy, of a very unusual shape - the upper petals resemble hare's ears, collected in few-flowered inflorescences on the tops of the stems.

Height. 1.2 - 1.8 m, grows quickly.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Keep it warm all year round at a temperature of 18 - 24° C. During the winter months, do not expose ruttya to temperatures below 10° C. 

Lighting

A brightly lit place with light shading during hot daylight hours in summer.

Care

The shrub is unpretentious and very easy to grow indoors. Regularly pinch the tips of young shoots to keep the plant lush. Trim too long stems after flowering. Tall specimens may require support over time.

Substrate

A well-drained, nutrient-rich, organic-based substrate. Ruttya does not like poor soils with a lot of sand. The soil should have a slightly acidic pH of 6.1 to 6.5.

Feeding

Ruttya loves regular feeding in spring and summer - apply liquid fertilizer after watering every 2 weeks during the period of active growth.

Purpose

Decorative flowering plant. 

Flowering time

Spring, re-blooming often occurs in autumn. With proper care and suitable maintenance conditions, ruttya can bloom all year round.

Air humidity

If the air in the room becomes too dry, for example when the central heating is on, use a humidifier or a tray with wet pebbles. You can spray the leaves with room temperature water in the morning.

Soil moisture

Water deeply and regularly during the growing season. In autumn, reduce the frequency of watering in accordance with the temperature. During the winter months, the soil can be dried to a depth of 5 cm between waterings. For irrigation, it is advisable to use softened water. 

Transfer

The bushes are replanted in the spring, before flowering, annually into larger pots.

Reproduction

Vegetative propagation by stem cuttings and propagation by seeds sown in spring are possible. Representatives of the species are easily propagated at home.

Pests and diseases

Leaves get burned when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Of the harmful insects, the main danger is spider mites and mealybugs.